This place is never empty and with good reason. The noodles and sushi are on point! I've also enjoyed the Japanese curry. Great south loop spot definitely recommend having a relaxing meal in or for take out you won't be disappointed. read more

Ordered 3 rolls. The naked had invitation crab was very disappointed in that. We ordered the Cajun and the spicy tuna both were extremely dry. Only reason it gets one star is because it's required. Absolutely do not recommend . read more

Umai - Cajun and spicy tuna roll extremely dry! Did not enjoy! - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm obsessed with this place! They have an expansive menu that I haven't yet seen at a Japanese restaurant in Chicago. What I mean is that, beyond all the sushi and ramen options, they also have some hard-to-find (in Chicago) Japanese dishes, like sukiyaki, soba, tsukemen, katsu curry, and so many more! And everything is DELICIOUS. AND on top of that, WELL-PRICED!! Like seriously, for the location in printers row (basically south loop), these are fantastic prices for a very satisfying and quality meal in a beautiful restaurant! ALSO. They don't take reservations but I had asked about the wait, and they said generally anytime between 5-7 there's not much of a wait and their busy hours tend to start at 7. This was true on both a Friday and Sunday that I went! I was seated immediately both times at around 6pm. I've been here twice in the past month and I already need to go back to try some more dishes. I highly recommend the soba, especially on a hot summer day! The noodles are the perfect texture, and dipping them into the cold sauce was incredibly refreshing and tasty. The tempura was the perfect light crunch and overall it was very filling! I ended up taking some leftover tempura home. I also recommend the sukiyaki. It comes in a large bowl (or maybe pot is the right word), hot and steamy. The noodles are an incredible texture--a little slippery and very fun to bite into! They're hanging out in a saucy soupy situation with a lot of juicy beef slices, some fresh green veggies and some roasted veggies. It also comes with a side of rice to balance out and soak up all the flavor. I also had leftovers of this! Also get the agedashi tofu!!! You will not be disappointed. It's silken tofu with a thin fun sticky outer layer, which absorbs the light brothy sauce that it's sitting in. My friends got sushi and ramen (can't remember which ones) but I had a bite of each and they were all really good. Again. I shall be back!! read more

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We have had a lot of good food here in South Loop. This was the best. The restaurant was busy much later than anything else around. Sukiyaki was amazing, and the sushi was delicious as well. Staff was helpful & kind. I'd go here again many times if I lived nearby. read more

Cut and pasted from their website: "UMAI means Good Food & Good taste." Quality/Quantity - My family craved soup??? Not sure why? It is like 85+ degrees outside. But what the family wants, they get. Limited menu so I expected it to be good. The drink menu has a few more choices, but still limited. No beer taps, drafts, so I went with sake today, plus my daughter wanted to drink with me. :) Umai Crunch & Mexicana Rolls - My order and my favorite of all the entrees. It ranked second with my family. Udon Kare - This was my second favorite, generous portions. Not a complaint, but way more meat than noodle ratio, again not a complaint. Almost ordered another serving of plain udon or rice. Good curry flavors, so much better than the "Good City Brewery," see other Yelp. This also came with a side salad & miso soup, both were good. Winter Ramen - My wife's choice, she liked this best, but we all liked it least. The beef was tough and not sure what kind of noodles they used? Definitely not the egg noodles I am used to. Katsu Don - Generous portions; the pork was so thick, in a good way. Good flavors. The Katsu could have had a better fry and could have been crispier. Large Hot Sake - My daughter wanted to drink with me, so happy. So, we got the large hot sake. It was very smooth, so smooth that I did not taste any of the alcohol...? Atmosphere - Small local restaurant. Indoor and outdoor seating, sushi bar seating not being utilized. No easy signage outside. Anyways, my daughter was on it and found the unmarked entrance easily. Open 7 days a week from 11:30 am to 10pm or 10:30pm. Sunday dinner hours are only from 4:30pm to 9:30pm. Service - Quan was very good. He took care of us, got us everything we needed, kept our waters full, etc. Price - $95 + tip. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2013, 10+ years of success. read more

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Food was delicious, both rolls and the katsu were great! Curry was perfectly spiced. Lots of seating, it was a great spot to grab lunch. read more

Umai - The food was delicious, they had lots of inside and some outside seating for lunch. - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend called in our order for pickup, and it was an easy experience as they were easily able to find the order when I arrived. Best of all, the food was ready and all I had to do was pay for it. The place was so busy on a Friday at 7pm, people were waiting to be seated, and I can see why because the food was delicious and fresh. I love how the spicy tuna roll I got is actually spicy, and the fish tasted fresh and high quality. They're conveniently located right off of Clark and Polk. This is definitely one of those restaurants where I'd love to dine in at because if it's so great when taking out, I can only imagine it being better. You'll have to come see for yourself. I'd return and I'd recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for Japanese cuisine. read more

Umai - Spicy Tuna Roll, California roll - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went with my roommates to check out the local eats. I thoroughly enjoyed the jump jive and wail kind of frenetic energy about the place. They were packed, they were busy, but they were used to it. Food came out out fresh and well timed. I love them carrying a Japanese brand of soda to drink. The fatty salmon was on special. $12 for 2 pieces of Nigiri and I had 3 orders. It was divine. The spicy tuna handroll was very clean and refreshing. The green tea Crème Brûlée was a delicacy all its own. The caramelized sugars broken into shards in the creamiest and delicate green tea flavors. read more

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Ever since our friend introduced us to Umai, my boyfriend and I have been coming here for date nights regularly. Umai never disappoints! We have been back five plus times in the last few months and each time, customer service, restaurant ambiance, and (most importantly) the food, has been spectacular! We have tried a good variety of the menu, from sushi to rice dishes to the ramen. Our favorite sushi roll is the Mexicana, a perfect blend of fresh fish, greens, and slight spice. The salmon nigiri is also very good because the fish is buttery and fresh. On this recent trip, a double date with my boyfriend and I and his parents, we also tried the unagi nigiri, which was delicious too. Perfect for those who are on the fence about eating raw fish (the unagi is cooked). As for the rice dish, we got the Gyu-Don (sliced ribeye in a sweet soy sauce). It came with a side salad (not pictured because it was eaten immediately lol), and a bowl of udon. The rice had more sweet and charred notes, which was well balanced with the savory udon soup. We have tried all three of the Ton Katsu, Miso, and Spicy Garlic ramens, but we keep coming back to the Spicy Garlic because we love the kick of spice. It is not overbearing at all and adds so much more flavor! The bouncy noodles and toppings always has us slurping away. We haven't tried any of the grilled items yet, so we decided to this time. The beef tongue was sooooo good and highly recommended (if you are adventurous c;). It was grilled to perfection. With the spritz of lemon juice, we gobbled the skewers up so quick. We paired everything with the hot sake. We got the bigger sized one and it was a decent amount for 3 people (I was the designated driver hehe). The boyfie's parents loved everything! The only sad part was that they didn't have the uni nigiri today and we really wanted his parents to try it. It's ok though, I know we will be back again soon :D read more

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Excellent made to order sushi. There are some rolls that you can get for half an order or full order. Service was great. I had the Chicago roll and added cream cheese. My daughter had the sunburn roll. Both were delicious. I loved the honey miso on top of the chicago roll just a hint of sweetness. We also enjoyed a side of seaweed salad. So yummy and easily shared with 2-3 people. The prices are reasonable and the quality superb. The menu is expansive. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Stop in and then go to Fox in a Box for an escape game right down the street. That would be a great date night. Enjoy! read more

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We just moved in near by and decided to try this spot on a Thursday night. The place was packed and for good reason. Everything is well priced given the location and the food was outstanding. We shared two rolls and the wings and they did not disappoint. The wings were perfectly crispy and the sauce was outstanding. Our server took great care of us. We would certainly return to try the rest of the menu. read more

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I got the pork katsu kare and enjoyed it. The curry itself was my favorite part. I thought the pork portion was very generous, but the pork was cut a little thin and was kind of tough. I also would have liked more veggies, but that might just be my personal preference. I was also a little surprised that they were all cold since I expected the green beans to be hot. I thought there was a lot of rice for the amount of gravy and that the brown rice (it's the purple kind with a little wild rice in it) was a little congealed, maybe not the freshest. The taste overall was on the saltier side. Overall though I liked it. My husband got ramen and enjoyed it. The service was fast and the spot is cute and not too busy for a Sunday evening. read more

Umai - Katsu Kare - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Umai works. It's not gonna be the best Japanese food you'll ever have but like I said, it works. The katsudon was hearty and generous while the sukiyaki was a little on the sweeter side and very generous. So for whatever reason, portions are heftier here than a typical Japanese restaurant though I'm not one to complain about that. All in all though, it's a nice spot for food if you find yourself in the area or stay at a hotel nearby. read more

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Not bad but also not the best. They have one of those menus where everything sounds great but I feel like when it actually comes out you're like "eh it's fine". We got the sloopin roll which I liked (each piece of the roll was so big it was hard to eat in one bite), the spicy tuna roll which was surprisingly spicy for a sushi place I could only eat like 2 pieces but my friend really liked this one and says it's super fresh, and the katsu kare which was peak looks/sounds good but their version was just fine. Also when we went their AC was broken so it was super hot and sweaty inside. I also got a lychee martini which was good but quite strong. Honestly a very south loop restaurant, if you know what I mean. read more

Umai - Spicy tuna roll and sloopin roll - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's definitely not the best Japanese food in town--and I can say this as a Japanese native--but they have a pretty decent variety of dishes that I love, and it's definitely far from the worst in town! I ordered the Nabeyaki Udon, which by definition should be udon noodles in a nabe (pot) and stir fried (yaki) but this one came in a broth like regular udon *shrugs*. It was pretty mediocre, sadly, but it could've been worse...? Affordable Japanese food in the Midwest is usually quite terrible at best, so this to me was better than expected. I'd probably come back here again to try a couple other dishes but my bf's ramen was definitely missing depth in flavor. For ramen, I'd definitely go to Wasabi over Umai. read more

Umai - Nabeyaki Udon - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was great, staff were polite, and the music was fun. Would reccomend! I got the Katsu Don. Was pretty large portioned, so come with a strong appetite! read more

Umai - Katsu Don - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First of all, they have a comprehensive menu that includes things from omakase and ramen to sukiyaki and Japanese grill, etc (basically all typical Japanese cuisine). We only tried their sushi omakase (nigiri) and chirashi. The fishes were fresh but very basic (ex: tuna, salmon, unagi, etc.) Chirashi costs $29 and came with large pieces of fish which wasn't right (should be smaller pieces and cost much less). Also, it's kinda misleading that they call their sushi rolls 'maki' or 'handrolls' (completely different things)... But for Chicago, we weren't expecting much (for sushi) and for the price paid we were stuffed. Quick service.No easy parking in the area. read more

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Have gotten excellent sushi takeout from this place for years. Tonight we decided to get down on some wasabi shumai and ramen. Had not preferred either from this spot and neither disappointed. My wife thought the ramen broth was a little fishy, and after she said it, I definitely agreed with her. But it was very flavorful and the portions of noodles and protein were very generous. Which is sometime an issue at ramen joints, trying to upsell you on add ons. Overall, strong Ramen game and I feel foolish for living in the neighborhood 6 years and never ordering it before. Definitely will again. Connie G is one knockout of a gorgeous dame! read more

Umai - Winter ramen - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall, ok. I had the spicy pork ramen, Zaru soba and sashimi. The ramen was decent. The flavor was not special but good. The noodles were a little doughy. The accompaniments were likewise decent. The waitress was right; it was not very spicey at all. The sashimi was average but the zaru soba was a little disappointing. The noodles had a strange texture and the soba tsuyu was way too sweet. That kinda ruined the meal for me. Overall, good to average. read more

I just couldn't justify sitting with my friends at another crappy deep dish spot so I had to scour the area for a better option; Umai is a way better option! This bowl of ramen hit the spot and beyond! They put the Mensa in even though I asked them not to but it tasted fine (I was worried ir would be fermented like my last terrible experience elsewhere) as this bowl was spot on incredible! I devoured just about all of it leaving some pork belly and broth and ordering udon noodles and extra ground pork to take home and enjoy a second meal out of it; man did I hit the jackpot with that decision. The ishi was just okay as I get the rolls were a touch smaller than I'd like, a smidge blander, and both had globs of cream cheese inside. Other than the sushi rolls I'd return in a heartbeat. read more

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As a vegetarian, its always hard to find a decent sushi spot. The veggie gyoza, sweet potato tempura roll and lychee mojito always hit the spot. My husband loves the rainbow roll. Definitely worth checking out. read more

4.5! I've been here a few times and it gets better and better each time I visit. My personal favorite is the omakase. I love the variety and the portion size. It's worth the price and I am sure it's one of the quality sushi for the price in the city. Tried the steak once and was too chewy for my taste. But the salad and miso soup they offer for omakase is my favorite. The salad is so so so good I don't even know why. Good customer service and nice vibes! read more

Umai - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Japanese people are specialists, perfectionists and masters of their craft. These culinary masters focus and hone their skill and customer experience to perfection. If you go to Japan, you know that generally Sushi places serve sushi/sashimi and don't serve ramen, ramen places don't serve soba or udon, Okonomiyaki places don't serve yakatori etc etc unless.,. You go to an Izaksya. The Izakaya experience dares to take on the specialized master dining experience and serve many varieties of Japan cuisine under one roof. Yowzer! Certainly bold move and risky move in a world of master perfectionist dining experiences. Often Izakaya's can be good but quite "ordinary" (kind of like a diner) unless you have the skill and confidence to bring A game talent to the dining/customer experience, which I'm happy to say that Umai's delivers across the board. First, the two sides of for to ceiling glass walls allow generous amounts of light into the warm, casual hi ceiling space. The menu is quite diverse with sushi, various types of noodles, rice dishes, yakatori, tempura,, multiple appetizer options and more. Portions are generous and price points quite reasonable for the portion size, quality and service experience, which comes with lots of smiles. The food comes quickly and with visually appealing plating, Good selection of reasonably priced Saki's. (Generally cold saki's are the better quality ones) The food, value and overall experience is terrific. Well done for delivering a terrific Izakaya style dining experience. read more

This is a delivery review. I ordered on UberEats. UberEats quoted me more than an hour and the food was delivered less than 30 minutes (I think the restaurant staff delivered the food) so I was very happy about that. Everything was tasty and even when we ate the leftover, including sushi, the next day, still tasted good. I really like the sukiyaki, it reminds me of my stay in Tokyo. I would definitely get it again and recommend to everyone. Catterpellar has sooo much avocado on it. If you love avocado, definitely get it. I personally like the taste of salmon avocado roll better. I recommend both. The gyoza is decent, just what you would expect, didn't give me any surprise. The lollipop chicken is decent too. I had it in the restaurant before and it was amazing. I think ours this time is a little over fried, but still tastes good. It is still very crunchy. Overall I had a great experience and would order delivery from them again! read more

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Went to celebrate a graduation with a party of 9. We had spicy edamame, octopus balls ( takoyaki), seaweed salad and take su (grilled octopus) for appetizers. Then we each had our own entrees. Most notable if the entrees are: nabeyaki udon, Gyu don and to lotus ramen. Most of us had a soup based entree because of the cold weather we were experiencing. All in all, a good experience with good service. We chose to go elsewhere for dessert. read more

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Came here during a girl's trip after a local friend recommended it for great ramen. We came to check in for dinner and they were packed which we knew was a good sign. We decided to wait for our table at the bar across the street over drinks which I highly recommend if you have a long wait. Tip: Peruse the menu while you wait to help expedite your ordering when seated. When we were finally seated we were ready to go. We ordered the fried wings as an appetizer and both ordered the pork belly ramen as our entree. Though the waitress was stretched thin and they were packed she worked hard to be attentive. Both items were absolutely delicious. The wings were fresh and well cooked. The spicy sauce they were coated in had a hint of sweetness. The pork belly ramen was very tasty. Tons of meaty, umami flavor and a very rich broth. All the toppings complemented the dish well. The noodles were the perfect al dente texture but also picked up the broth's flavor nicely. All in all we had a great experience and would definitely return. read more

Umai - Spicy Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute Japanese spot in South Loop. Indoor dine-in/takeout available (no outdoor dining options). Credit cards are accepted. Bathrooms are available by the hostess stand. They serve alcohol. Came for dinner around 7 on a Friday in a group of three and there was about a 25 minute wait (we had no reservations). The fish was fresh and the prices were reasonable. I got the nama sake don which came with thick cuts of salmon (yummm) atop ginger, two scoops of wasabi, pineapples, and sushi rice. It also came with a miso soup which was a tad watery but was a nice little appetizer to the meal. The Chicago roll is a great option to split though you could also opt to get a half roll. They do also offer salads, ramen, and other cooked items. read more

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Stopped in for lunch with coworkers. First time here. Fantastic service from the moment we sat down. The sushi rolls, spicy edamame, and sashimi were all fresh and tasty. The ambiance was quiet and relaxing. read more

Great service, nice atmosphere, great food! Stopped by for an early lunch on a Saturday. They have an extensive menu so I feel that there's definitely something for everyone here. I was impressed by the quality of the fish that they served. I ordered a Chirashi bowl which came with a side of miso soup. I was surprised by the variety of fish that was provided. The sashimi all tasted fresh and had good textures. My friend ordered a roll and two orders of Nigiri and she also enjoyed her lunch. I've tried to come here a few times before, mostly for dinner, and it's been packed so I chose to go somewhere else. I think I understand the hype -- I will definitely be returning to have more sushi or to try the other offerings they have from their extensive menu. read more

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Came on a Sunday night and there was no wait for a table for two. Food was delicious and the servers were attentive and kind. Restaurant wasn't too loud and it was easy to hold a conversation. read more

Umai - Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a Japanese restaurant in the South Loop area, located centrally in a group of large high rises. Ambience: I would say that the trendy atmosphere is probably this restaurant's strength. It's in the heart of South Loop, with indoor and outdoor seating, wood paneling and Japanese decor, big glass windows. It's very aesthetically appealing, and I think if you brought a visitor from out of town here for dinner, it would be an ideal place. Food: I thought the food was decent. Nothing really blew my socks off. The fish is all fresh, but the rolls were very Westernized and left something to be desired for me. Expect many original roll creations with Chicago-related names. Expect cream cheese to be heavily featured. Again, there's nothing inherently wrong with that. If authenticity is what you seek, search elsewhere. Overall, I would say I had a good experience here. The service was good, and I have no complaints about that! Parking is the usual in South Loop--you can snag something paid on the street. It's a great vibe to spend an early evening before going out. read more

Umai - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Been coming here over a year and it delivers great food and service every time. Their sushi (especially rainbow roll) is top notch and their miso soup is to die for. Great spot for a date! read more

Umai - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Umai is always my fav restaurant! The food is delicious, service is great! All sashimi is super fresh!!! Recommend to check it out read more

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Amazing ambience (great for date nights!) food and service. Kinda jealous of my friend who lives so close to this great place. Went early on a weekend evening at 6 P and got a table pretty quickly. Service was super quick and efficient. I got the Katsu don and my friend got omakase with spicy tuna roll. Both his food and mine were delicious! I hadn't had such a flavorful katsu don in a long time. We were also given miso soup and a small salad before our food arrived, liked that little touch. Service was great, everyone was super nice and friendly. Can't wait to go back. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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I was very surprised and pleased with this place! I generally don't find South Loop to be a booming place for out of the world food experiences, but Umai has exceeded my expectations when it comes to Asian food in the area. The fish quality with their omakase is really good and decently priced compared to other sushi options that I see around the city. I also got introduced to their Sukiyaki dish which is also a nice heartwarming dish to keep you warm during the winter. The beef is super well marinated and flavored and the vegetables provide nice balance to the overall dish. This place seems to always be packed and booming and I would say it deserves the hype it gets. read more

Umai - Sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stumbled into this place on a wet and drizzly afternoon while waiting for my passport to be completed. Sat down to a delicious bowl of hot steaming Ramen that hit the spot as well as some green tea. Ambiance was cozy, clean and airy, service was prompt and attentive. Yummmm! read more

Umai - Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Umai is my go-to place for a quick fix to my Japanese (especially Ramen and Sushi) cravings. The Spicy Pork Ramen is the ramen I always get. It was very tasty with a lot of flavors, although the garlic chips can be too chewy occasionally. We've been only ordering takeouts since the pandemic, but this ramen never let us down. The broth is kept in a separate container and it is always warm/hot when we receive the delivery. Umai has a wide choice of sushi and skewers, but Goosebump sushi and Pork Shoulder skewer are my favorite ones. Glad Umai has been delivering fresh and delicious food to my place. read more

Umai - I merged the sushi in one container. - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chef's choice of sushi were fresh and big on the portion. Uni was a highlight. Grilled beef tougue was chewy and that's where I took a star off. The place got packed fast on a Wednesday night but service was fast too. read more

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We rolled into Umai first thing when they opened and the dining space quickly filled up within the hour. We ordered the Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork ramen and Sloopin' and Umani Crunch for dinner. The ramen broth is more creamy and true to a bland pork broth than other ramen shops. Their flavors are much lighter and delicate. I love the ramen noodles, diced green onions and ground pork used. I was no a fan of their sushi rolls. I am typically not a fan of sushi rolls piled with unfried panko crumbs. It's quite unrefreshing and easy to fill out a sushi plate. I'd reorder the ramen and not the rolls. The waitress also had hindsight of giving us plates to share, we had to wait for her for 10-15 minutes after all food was served to get those plates. read more

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This was my second time trying Umai. Overall, I think it was a good meal. Loved the lychee martini. Everything else was very fresh. Service was good. We did sit outside which is right by a busy intersection on Clark, but didn't mind. read more

Umai - Spicy edamame, smoked salmon nigiri and a Lychee Martini - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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